TIE renewal in 2026: what actually changed

Renewing a TIE has always been a paperwork slog, but 2026 brought a handful of quiet changes that catch students out. Here's the short version.

1. The Extranjería portal moved#

Bookings that used to live under sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es now redirect to a new subdomain. Bookmarks from last year will still work, but they add an extra redirect and sometimes lose the office selection. Book fresh — don't reuse the URL a friend sent you in 2024.

2. Modelo 790-012: same form, new checksum#

The tasa (fee slip) still looks identical. But the printable PDF now embeds a QR code with a checksum tied to the exact euro amount. Pay a cent off and the counter clerk will bounce you.

• ✅ Fill on-screen, print immediately
• ❌ Print blank, hand-write the amount

3. Appointment windows are shorter#

The old advice was "book 60 days before your card expires". In practice, slots are now released 35–45 days out in most Barcelona offices, and they fill in hours. If your TIE expires in July, start checking daily from mid-May.

What to bring to the appointment#

Same as before, but bring two copies of everything — some clerks now keep one and give one back stamped:

• Current TIE card
• Passport (original + photocopy of the ID page)
• EX-17 filled and signed
• Modelo 790-012 receipt (paid, not the blank form)
• Empadronamiento certificate (issued in the last 3 months)
• Proof of continued studies — a matrícula letter dated this academic year

The mistake we see most#

Students bring a matrícula letter from last academic year because it's the one they can find in their email. Extranjería will refuse it. Log in to your university portal, download the current one, and print it fresh.

If you're renewing for the first time, follow our TIE renewal flow — it walks you through every form, fee, and office in order.